Construction & Building

NEWS - Construction & Building

SBJ Staff Report

Nov 21, 2011 - Parsons construction company has been recognized by the Georgia Partnership for Transportation Quality (GPTQ) for two of the firm’s projects with preconstruction awards at the 2011 Georgia’s Transportation Summit.

The Jimmy Deloach Connector was selected in the category of context-sensitive design, including public participation plan, and the company’s completed Acworth Due West Road project is the winner in the traffic safety or intersection design category.

Under contract with the Georgia Ports Authority, Parsons designed the 3.1-mile Jimmy Deloach Connector and two interchanges using context-sensitive design and sustainability principles to minimize wetland impacts. Parsons also prepared approved concept and environmental effects reports for the natural, social, and cultural environments and took part in significant public involvement efforts. Located in the environmentally sensitive region of coastal Georgia, the Jimmy Deloach Connector is one of the “last-mile” projects considered critical for the growth of the Port of Savannah and crucial for the entire economy of Georgia. This project will enable faster truck access between port gates and I-95, relieve congestion, and improve the safety of the local transportation network.

In Cobb County, one of Georgia’s fastest growing counties, Parsons was retained to provide safety and operational improvements for the Acworth Due West Road. The road, originally a wagon trail and historically significant for its role in the Civil War, was built on rolling, hilly terrain, and Parsons was enlisted to remedy substandard lane widths, intermittent sidewalks, narrow shoulders, and deficient sight distances along a 5.3-mile section. Parsons delivered the project ahead of schedule and used an innovative approach to prioritize safety improvements for the corridor, resulting in significant cost savings to the customer.

“Parsons is very proud to have its projects recognized in this manner,” said Tom Barron, Parsons Group President. “We have a long history in the state of Georgia, and these projects demonstrate the integration of safety, sustainability, and innovation that we apply to all projects.”

Both of Parsons’ projects were honored with awards that were created to annually recognize exceptional transportation projects that demonstrate the creativity and command of technical and organizational skills necessary to create high-quality solutions to Georgia’s transportation needs, according to Barron.

Parsons, celebrating more than 65 years of growth in the engineering and construction industry, focuses on infrastructure, environmental, and defense/security projects.  

NEWS - Construction & Building

SBJ Staff Report

Nov 14, 2011 - Canady’s Precision Air Conditioning & Heating has expanded with a new showroom and operations center at 1209 Highway 80 in Pooler. 

Fred Canady, founder and president of Canady’s Precision Air Conditioning & Heating, along with Mike Lamb, mayor of Pooler, and members of the Pooler Chamber of Commerce will participate in the company’s official opening and ribbon cutting ceremony this Friday, Nov. 18, from 4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m.  Canady will draw names for door prizes at 6:00 p.m. to conclude the festivities with attendees.

The community is invited to tour the building and enjoy free hors d’oeuvres and beverages. Additionally, each guest will receive a gift bag as a thank you for attending. The event will feature representatives from TRANE, Georgia Power, Honeywell as well as Canady’s Comfort Specialist Technicians who will be on-hand to answer questions on saving energy, qualifying for tax credits and making a home more energy efficient.  

“What makes Canady’s great is our people,” said Fred Canady. “They are highly motivated and experts in their field, but most of all they are caring. You cannot train people to be ethical and caring. We hire the right people and train them to be experts. Our employees are the reason for our growth and success.”

Canady’s has served the Coastal Empire since 1987, and is a TRANE Comfort Specialist Dealer. The company is considered one of the top TRANE dealers in the state of Georgia.

Canady’s currently holds a customer satisfaction score of 99%, has a Dun & Bradstreet rating of over 800 and is a Better Business Bureau preferred company. Canady’s technicians are in the top 10% of the country and hold EPA, NATE, NCI and BPI Certifications.

Canady’s provides residential and light commercial air conditioning and heating service, installation and indoor air quality consulting.  According to Fred Canaday, the company has invested in the best dispatching software available, and has equipped each work truck with GPS mapping to ensure prompt and timely appointments.

Canady’s is a member of NATE (National Air Technicians Excellence), ACCA, (Association of Conditioned Air Contractors of America) and NCI (National Comfort Institute). Fred Canady has is also a board member of CACG (Conditioned Air Contractors of Georgia) where he currently serves as president of the Coastal Empire Chapter.

The company plans to open a third office on Whitemarsh Island, as well,  targeted for spring 2012.

NEWS - Construction & Building

SBJ Staff Report

Oct 24, 2011 - On October 1, 2009, OSHA introduced the National Emphasis Program (NEP) on Recordkeeping to determine accuracy and to assess the injury and illness data recorded by employers, with a particular focus on the construction industry.

The NEP involves inspecting occupational injury and illness records prepared by businesses and appropriately enforcing regulatory requirements when the employers are found to be under-recording injuries and illnesses.

OSHA announced that their inspections will include a records review, employee interview and a limited safety and health inspection on jobsites with high injury and illness rates. The construction industry is identified as having high injuries and illness rates.

A free training program will be held on Weds, Nov. 30 from 8:30 AM - 12:00 PM at the offices of JCB in Pooler.  The seminar will familiarize businesses on the OSHA recordkeeping requirements, posting and reporting; and how to correctly complete OSHA forms 300, 300A and the 301.

The class is being sponsored jointly by NAWIC and The Associated General Contractors of America, Georgia Chapter,  and will be taught by Phillip Moncrief from the Savannah OSHA office.  NAWIC supports the personal and professional development of women in the construction industry. 

Under the Obama Administration, OSHA enforcement has escalated and OSHA is seeing tougher penalties as a result of increased pressure from Congress.

The free seminar will familiarize employers on the recordkeeping requirements, as well as posting and reporting statutes, and will provide a hands-on session on how to correctly complete OSHA forms 300, 300A and the 301. Seating is limited.

For registration forms, contact 678-298-4101 or email to This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .  For more information, contact Jenny Tuggle @ at 678.298-4112 or This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

NEWS - Construction & Building

Oct 10, 2011 – After months of meetings held around Chatham County to inform the public and gather input from all statekholders about the proposed changes to the City of Savannah’s and Chatham County’s Unified Zoning Ordinance, the MPC will move forward through the next steps in the process.

On Tuesday, October 11, the Unified Zoning Ordinance staff will continue the review of the draft Ordinance with the members of the Metropolitan Planning Commission in a meeting of the MPC from 1:30-5 p.m. at the Arthur Mendonsa Room, 112 E. State Street.

Then on Thurs, Oct. 13, the Unified Zoning Ordinance staff will review the draft Ordinance with the attorneys for the City of Savannah and Chatham County from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. in the Jerry Surrency Room at 112 E. State Street.

On Mon., Oct. 17, the Unified Zoning Ordinance staff will continue its meetings with the public, with a presentation to the Tatemville Neighborhood Associations at 6:30 p.m. at the Tatemville Community Center, 333 Coleman Street.

On then on Tues., Oct. 25, the staff will be on the agenda again for continued review of the draft Ordinance with the members of the Metropolitan Planning Commission in a called meeting of the MPC, 1:30-5 p.m., Arthur Mendonsa Room, 112 E. State Street.

NEWS - Construction & Building

SBJ Staff Report

Oct 10, 2011 – Roofing Professionals, Inc. (RPI), a roofing company based in Richmond Hill, has announced the opening of its newest location in Augusta. The company has been bidding on work and serving the Augusta area for several years., but has now added an office and dedicated staff.

The new office will be located at 1810-E Wylds Road in Augusta, and will be staffed by Mike Reynolds, the company’s president, who will work on business development, Project Manager James Furmanek, who will also work in RPI Service, Superintendent James Frank and Foreman Wayne Stafford.

According to Reynolds, a 30-year veteran of the construction industry, "I have built relationships with so many people in the city over the years, and I am committed to serving the needs of the Augusta community.”

Furmanek, who has worked in the roofing industry for more than 27 years, believes that Reynolds' many years in the Augusta community will benefit the company, "We are a local company, and the employees are local. It's a great opportunity to generate revenue in Augusta and spend the dollars here."

RPI has already completed several projects in the Augusta area, including roofing projects at Fort Gordon, Barton Field and the DFAC battalion, barracks and brigade. Current projects in the Augusta area include the Kroc Center, the Shops at Evans and the Tee Center.

"We are excited to invest in the Augusta community and continue building relationships with the city's citizens and businesses," added Reynolds. "We have already completed several successful projects in the area and look forward to our future endeavors in the Augusta market."

Reynolds launched RPI more than 11 years, providing professional roofing solutions from standard maintenance to restoration and replacement. In addition to offering traditional roofing services to customers in Southeast Georgia, Augusta, Georgia, and South Carolina, RPI specializes in green roofing initiatives. RPI was recently presented with a 2011 Firestone Partner in Quality Award for its dedication to roofing system excellence.

NEWS - Construction & Building

By Lou Phelps, SBJ Staff

Sept 26, 2011 -  The April-June 2011 quarter brought a pleasant surprise for AWD of Savannah, a local woodworking company building custom furniture and cabinetry, according to president and head designer of AWD, Harley Ashbaugh.  

With fall approaching,  the company saw a substantial increase in demand for cabinetry and custom made furniture, a trend being experienced in Savannah and across the U.S. based on national orders in the custom cabintry business, according to the Austin Texas based Build Fax Remodeling Index. May 2011 had the highest index since 2004; May 2011 orders rose 22% over the prior year.

AWD experienced the growth, as well.  And, with more design jobs on the books, AWD has announced that it has been able to hire two additional staff members to ensure timely design and project delivery, according to Ashbaugh.

The new team members will support Ashbaugh in all phases of design process and wood working execution. They include Russell A. Klee Jr., an award winning furniture maker who joins AWD in the function of cabinetmaker, and Makayla Schaller, a seasoned woodworker who will fill the position of woodshop manager at AWD.

“AWD is fortunate to be in the position of hiring and expanding our business,” said Ashbaugh. ”I am convinced that the positive trend for our firm, custom cabinetry and furniture will progress into 2012 and beyond due to the fact that homeowners are investing in their existing properties instead of buying new real estate. Our clients are looking for individual design solutions for their living environment, the Special Something, most chain stores are not able to offer.”

AWD (www.awdsavannah.com) provides high-quality architectural woodworking and design in furniture and cabinetry, customized for individual needs, including desired style, creative design execution, and purposeful functionality, with all products made in the U.S.

NEWS - Construction & Building

SBJ Staff Report

Sept 26, 2011 - The City of Savannah Water Systems have met and exceeded all federal water quality standards, according to the recently released 2010 Consumer Confidence Reports.

The City has made the reports available at all Chatham County public libraries and on the City’s Web site at www.savannahga.gov/cityweb/wsweb.nsf. A copy of the report has also been mailed to every City of Savannah water customer.

Every year the City is required to prepare Consumer Confidence Reports for each of its water systems summarizing the results of tests that measure the amount of certain substances in the water to ensure that the system meets federal Environmental Protection Agency standards.

In 2010 the City of Savannah Water Laboratory performed more than 134,000 tests to ensure water quality, and the tests showed the City met all standards and received excellent report cards for each of its eight water systems.

The American Water Works Association’s 2010 Water and Wastewater Rate Survey showed that Savannah has the lowest combined water and sewer rate in Georgia, and fourth lowest of all 70 water systems surveyed in the Southeast United States – 32 percent below the regional average and 41 percent below the national average, according to city officials.

Here is  downloadable chart showing that data.

NEWS - Construction & Building

SBJ Staff Report

Sept 19 - Construction phase I of the Mitsubishi Power Systems Americas (MPSA) Savannah Machinery Works recently received two Build Georgia Merit Awards from the Georgia Branch Associated General Contractors (Georgia Branch AGC). 

The project was lauded in the “Design-Build – Companies Over $100 Million” category, in addition to obtaining honors in the Best Sustainable Building Practices category.  The construction project along Rt. 16 in Savannah is a joint-venture between H.J. High Construction and Batson-Cook; construction has been working continuously on the site since November 2009.

“Receiving a Build Georgia award for excellence in construction from the Georgia Branch AGC is a thrill and a wonderful validation of our work,” according to Batson-Cook’s Vice President Wendell Martin.  Randy Hall, senior vice president and general manager of the firm’s Atlanta office, added “The additional honor in the ‘Best Sustainable Building Practices’ category testifies to the corporate character of our team – environmentally responsible construction on- time and within budget.”

The initial phase of the Savannah Machinery Works, which recently celebrated its grand opening, consists of over 150,000 sq ft of machinery manufacturing space.  In addition, the $40 million project boasts over 30,000 square feet of office space. 

Batson-Cook Company, founded in 1915, specializes in providing commercial general contracting, preconstruction, construction management, and design-build services to a wide range of clients, and has offices in Atlanta and West Point, Georgia as well as Tampa and Jacksonville, Florida. Batson-Cook Company is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Kajima USA.

H.J. High Construction Company, founded in 1936, has been a leader in the Florida construction marketplace for over 75 years. H. J. High offers design/build and construction management services to the industrial, educational, religious, and commercial markets. 

Batson-Cook is pleased to announce that the Mitsubishi Power Systems America Savannah Machinery Works Project Phase I was honored with two Build Georgia Merit Awards from the Georgia Branch Associated General Contractors.  I have attached a press release which details both awards.